Journal Prompt: What was Your Favorite Place as a Child?

Journal Prompt: What was Your Favorite Place as a Child?

My favorite place as a child was Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains where my Grandma Bean lived. 

Townsend was my favorite place not only because my Grandma Bean lived there but mostly because she lived there. During the Summers I would go stay with her in Townsend. I had a Best Friend named Jason there. Jason's dad Tommy was my Dad's best friend so Jason & I would play together as kids while our father's hung out. 

I remember going to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with my Grandma. Riding along the parkway next to the Little River and looking at the scenery and the wildlife. I remember one funny thing about Grandma, which to this day makes me love her more and that would be this....Grandma Bean would be driving along and if she saw a Turtle crossing the road, which we did often, she would stop the car in the middle of the road, she didn't care if there was anyone behind her or if they honked at her lol. She would get out of the car and pick up the Turtle and take it home with us. You see, my Grandma Bean had a pond on her property so she would take the Turtles home so they had a place to go and water nearby. 

We would also go to Cades Cove a lot, that is one thing I love about Townsend, Tennessee. Cades Cove is where you can see a lot of the wildlife. I always knew if a Bear was nearby because you could see a group of people, obviously tourists, standing around a tree looking up. And sure enough there would be a Bear in the tree, I'm guessing trying to get away from all the people and that's where it felt safe. It's nothing to see Deer there because there is an abundance of Deer down there. Wild Turkey's are another animal we used to see a lot. And of course Turtle's during the Summer. The amount of wildlife I would see made me happy because I love animals and I also love taking photos of them, capturing them in all their beauty. 

I remember one time my Dad and I were at a Pizza Place in Maryville which is the town next to Townsend and we were with his friend Dallas. Dallas and Dad were trying to eat and talk and I had already eaten and I was bored. I must note I have ADHD so I was really bored & I guess they obviously tell so Dad and Dallas started giving me quarters to go play the Arcade Machines and than they started giving me Dollar Bills. Haha.

On Grandma's property was her house and than the guest house which we stayed in and her huge Shed out back that Dad used as his hangout when he was a Teenager. The property was pretty big and next door to Grandma's is where Dad's best friend Tommy lived. I remember I used to sometimes go walking through the woods to go to Jason's house.

One time when I was really young, maybe 2 or 3, this was before my sister who is 3 years younger than me was born. I was on a little car that had wheels and obviously no brakes. Now Grandma's property was on the side of the mountain so it was at a slope and the Guest House was at the top of the property and Grandma's house was at the bottom of the property. I came out of the Guest House and got on my little car and started pedaling it and going downhill and all of a sudden my Mom comes running out of the house screaming because I went down the hill on the property past Grandma's house and that's where the road was. I almost went into the road and my mom was screaming and freaking out. I was looking around like what's going on, why are you screaming your head off. I thought I was in trouble or something. LOL.

I remember my Grandma Bean was a cat lover. She had some indoor and outdoor cats. I guess that's where I get my love of animals especially cats from. My mom has a picture of me when I was a baby, probably not even 1 yet at that time and it's a photo of my Grandma holding a White Kitten and I am in my baby carrier just smiling away as Grandma is showing me the kitten. Grandma also had a dog named Lady. She was a beautiful dog, she was a Collie. I remember she had long hair too. Dad and Tommy used to team up together and shave Lady and give her a bath. 

I remember one year Mom and Donica went to the Collins Family Reunion and dad and I didn't want to go so him and I hopped on his motorcycle and headed down to Townsend to visit Grandma Bean. I don't really remember the ride down there but I remember going down there on dad's motorcycle. 

Dad's best friend Tommy ran the campground at the end of our road and I remember often times Jason and I would hang out at the campground. The Little River ran beside the campground and I remember there was this huge tree next to the river. Tommy hung a rope on one of the branches so Jason and I could jump in the river. Back than I was fearless and I would grab the rope and jump right in. I don't remember if it was deep or not but I guess I didn't much care because I was having fun. 

My dad was and still is a HUGE fan of Tennessee Volunteers and I honestly have been a fan since I was a kid. My love for the Vols will never change. It's kind of strange, you would have to be from Tennessee to understand, that Pat Summit is like family. You know, you grow up with seeing Pat all the time, hearing about Pat, watching Pat on TV or at the Basketball Games. So sad she passed away, it was like one of my own relatives died.

And one of the greatest things to come out of the Smoky Mountains in my opinion anyway is, Dolly Parton. Yes I have loved Dolly Parton since I was a kid. I grew up on her music, her movies. Not to mention my favorite song is Rocky Top, the version she sang anyway. You can't be from Tennessee and NOT like Dolly Parton or something's wrong with you. LOL. 

I have so many fond memories of Townsend, Tennessee and to this day I have such a great love for the place. And a desire to eventually move there or at least settle down there. My heart will always be with Townsend, Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains. I guess I'll see what the future has in store for me.